At 4 a.m. on July 15, the WNBA regular season continues with the Minnesota Lynx hosting the Indiana Fever at home.
The Lynx have been in a bit of a slump recently, winning only two out of their last five games. In their most recent match, they suffered a 63-91 defeat to the Storm, with Collier absent from the game. The team’s offense relied heavily on McBride, who hit six three-pointers and scored 27 points, but no other player managed double-digit points as they struggled. Currently, the Lynx have a record of 16 wins and 7 losses, ranking third in the league. Their performance is still commendable, but they’ve experienced a slight downturn in form and are in desperate need of a victory to boost morale.
With Collier expected to return against the Fever, the team’s offensive capabilities will see a significant increase. This season, the Lynx have maintained a high offensive efficiency, which has been crucial for their top-tier standing. Three-point shooting has been a primary weapon for them, averaging 9.9 made threes per game with a 39.1% success rate, both ranking among the league leaders. Moreover, Collier is the team’s offensive centerpiece, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game; while McBride provides outside shooting stability, averaging 15.9 points per game with a three-point percentage of 42%.
The Fever have also shown a decent momentum lately, pulling off a surprise win against the Mercury in their previous game, securing their third victory out of the last five matches. During the game against the Mercury, the Fever displayed remarkable offensive efficiency. Mitchell scored 28 points, Boston contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Clark dropped 20 points and dished out 13 assists, marking her fifth consecutive game with a double-double. With the win over the Mercury, the Fever’s record improved to 10 wins and 14 losses, placing them seventh in the league. They’ve made significant progress from being near the bottom at the start of the season to now sitting in seventh place.
The Fever’s offensive performance has been impressive, with Mitchell and Clark in red-hot form, giving them a chance to pull off an upset on the road. However, one of their disadvantages lies in defense, where they concede an average of 87.2 points per game. If the Lynx can find their rhythm, it becomes much harder for the Fever to secure a victory. Additionally, another point of interest is whether Clark can extend her streak of consecutive double-doubles. As a rookie this season, she is currently averaging 16.8 points and 7.8 assists per game, demonstrating a very solid performance.
This will be the first meeting between these two teams this season. Given their recent form, the Fever do have a chance to pull off an upset. However, the Lynx have a strong home record of 10 wins and 2 losses. Who will come out victorious remains to be seen!